| Sesame Street | |||||||||
| Ruthie wants to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem | |||||||||
| Air date | February 3, 1995 | ||||||||
| Season | Season 26 (1994-1995) | ||||||||
| Written by | Nancy Sans | ||||||||
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| Picture | Segment | Description |
|---|---|---|
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SCENE 1 | Ruthie practices some odd-looking dance moves, which Elmo and Zoe find silly. Ruthie tells them it's not meant to be silly; she's practicing to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Arthur Mitchell, founder of the dance company, arrives to see her skills. Ruthie attempts a giant leap during her routine, but falls flat on the ground. He recommends more practice, saying that he'll check out her progress later. |
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Cartoon | A pencil tries to write the word DANCE. (First: Episode 1966) |
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Muppets | Ernie sings "Imagine That" about things that he sometimes imagines to be: first a knight in shining armor who battles a dragon, then a sailor, and finally, himself. (First: Episode 2142) |
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Film | "Simple Pleasures" by Bobby McFerrin is played over footage of a girl trying to play frisbee with a dog on the beach. (First: Episode 2876) |
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Muppets | The Dance Theatre of Harlem Presents: Bird Lake (First Movement) Big Bird counts 3 "birds," including himself. |
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Cartoon | A mouse sings "Felines," a song about emotions, to the tune of "Feelings." (First: Episode 3278) |
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SCENE 2 | Arthur witnesses some more of Ruthie's awkward moves and suggests she practice even more. |
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Film | A girl learns how to rollerblade. (First: Episode 3270) |
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Animation | Gregorian H/h chant |
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Film | Planting Letters: H (First: Episode 3016) |
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Film | The floating kids form H. (First: Episode 3118) |
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Film | Joe Raposo sings "Dressed Up." (First: Episode 0302) |
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Muppets | The Dance Theatre of Harlem Presents: Bird Lake (Second Movement) Big Bird counts 4 "birds," including himself. |
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Cartoon | Counting to 10 Artist: Keith Haring (First: Episode 3042) |
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SCENE 3 | Ruthie practices a spin, making herself dizzy. She falls into Arthur's arms, who has one criticism: "More practice!" |
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Song | "The First Time" - Children try various activities (riding tricycles, tying shoes, etc.) and progressively improve. (First: Episode 2950) |
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Animation | Abstract count to 14. (First: Episode 2811) |
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Film | Girls dance and chant about the number 14. (First: Episode 3014) |
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Cartoon | "Fourteen Desert" Artist: Joey Ahlbum (First: Episode 3267) |
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Film | Various situations of before and after, to a hip-hop beat. (First: Episode 3201) |
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Muppets | The Dance Theatre of Harlem Presents: Bird Lake (Third Movement) Big Bird counts 5 "birds," including himself and Tarah. |
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Cartoon | The Great Inventors Series: Willy Pinkham, intern at the rubber glove factory, invents the balloon. Artist: Bruce Cayard (First: Episode 2579) |
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Song | "Big D and Little D" (First: Episode 3270) |
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Film | Alphaquest: D (First: Episode 2723) |
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Animation | D / d (space paint) (First: Episode 3213) |
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SCENE 4 | Ruthie's practicing has improved, and Arthur invites her up to the theatre to teach his dancers how to practice as well as her. Ruthie is honored, but learns she's just there for the practice part; her dancing still needs... practice. |
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Cartoon | A face is assembled and becomes an abstract portrait. |
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Song | Lillian sings "Face Facts." (First: Episode 2760) |
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Muppets | Mr. Johnson goes to the local gym, where Grover is one of the instructors. He is about to help Mr. Johnson work out, but keeps leaving to get his towel, whistle, barbell, and radio. Once he is planned to work out, Grover is too tired to do anything else. (First: Episode 3262) |
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Film | Fay Ray dresses up as a "green elephant," a moose, and "Kermit the dog." (First: Episode 2864) |
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Muppets | The Dance Theatre of Harlem Presents: Bird Lake (Fourth Movement) Big Bird counts 6 "birds," including himself, Tarah and Snuffy. |
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Cartoon | Edgar Turtle's three nephews demonstrate a round by singing "Redwood Tree." (First: Episode 2506) |
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SCENE 5 | Arthur gives Ruthie somewhat encouraging news: "I don't think you can get any better." He tells her she can participate with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and has the perfect ballet for her; Ruthie feels very proud. |
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Cartoon | Lillian is proud because she climbed a mountain all by herself. Artist: Craig Bartlett (First: Episode 2749) |
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Film | H for Hat - kids try on different hats as camera shutters go off. (First: Episode 3292) |
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Cartoon | Falling leaves form H and h. (First: Episode 3118) |
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Song | "Happy Happiness," against footage of kids playing at a beach. |
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Muppets | The Dance Theatre of Harlem Presents: Bird Lake (Fifth Movement) Big Bird counts "a whole flock of birds," including himself, Tarah, Snuffy, Ruthie and some Birdketeers. |
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Cartoon | Jerry Nelson sings "Moonshine." (First: Episode 2775) |
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SCENE 6 | Ruthie reads Elmo and Zoe an old African story titled A Home in the Sky. In the story, everyone and everything (including the moon, sun, and ocean) lived in the same part of the world. The Sun and Moon build their own house and invite everyone for a house-warming party, only the water doesn't come. They invite him in, but he floods the house, forcing the sun and moon to move higher and higher until they reach the sky, a perfect new place to live. Ruthie tells the monsters that the story can also be told through dance and takes them to see. |
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Muppets | "African Alphabet Song" (First: Episode 2360) |
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Cartoon | Anansi the Spider tells the story of how the sun and the moon came to live in the sky. |
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SCENE 7 | Ruthie, Elmo, and Zoe (and other residents from the street, including Maria, Luis, Gabi, and Bob) gather at the Dance Theatre of Harlem for a special performance of A Home in the Sky. The ballet dancers interpret the story, as Elmo and Zoe narrate. |
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SCENE 7 cont'd | The crowd applauds and Ruthie announces the sponsors. The credits follow. |
Notes
- This episode was later re-aired in Season 28 as Episode 3605.
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